FIA confirms McLaren and Mercedes front wings are legal

The FIA has moved to quell speculation surrounding the legality of certain Formula 1 teams' front wing designs, declaring that all 2024 configurations currently comply with regulations.

This statement comes in the wake of increased scrutiny on McLaren and Mercedes following the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

Heightened interest in wing flexibility

Onboard footage from the Monza weekend revealed a notable degree of movement in the McLaren and Mercedes front wings, prompting rivals Ferrari and Red Bull to call for further investigation.

This development has brought the ongoing debate about aeroelasticity in F1 back into the spotlight.

The FIA's monitoring efforts

Since the Belgian Grand Prix, the sport's governing body has been actively monitoring front wing movement using specialized cameras.

This initiative aims to assess whether current flex tests adequately address the complexities of modern wing designs.

"Since the Belgium Grand Prix, the FIA has acquired additional data during FP1 and FP2 sessions to assess dynamic behaviours through an FIA-mandated video camera,"

the FIA explained in its statement. The body emphasized that this is primarily a data-gathering exercise rather than a punitive investigation.

Challenges in regulating front wing flex

The FIA acknowledged the inherent difficulties in creating universal standards for front wing flexibility.

"The front wing has been a challenging area throughout the years, because the aerodynamic loading patterns between different competitors varies,"

the statement noted. This variability makes it challenging to devise a single load vector applicable to all wing designs.

In contrast, other areas of the car, such as rear wings and floor edges, exhibit more consistent loading patterns across different teams, allowing for more standardized testing procedures.

Current compliance and future considerations

Despite the concerns raised, the FIA has affirmed that all front wings currently meet the 2024 technical regulations.

The rules permit a small degree of flexibility, with Article 3.15.5 specifying that

"any part of the trailing edge of any front wing flap may deflect no more than 5mm, when measured along the loading axis, when a 60N point load is applied normal to the flap."

While the FIA has stated there are "no plans for any short-term measures," it is evaluating the situation with medium and long-term perspectives in mind.

This approach suggests that while immediate changes are unlikely, the governing body remains open to potential adjustments in future seasons.